Production Manager

Martha Jercinovich

Duncan Aviation recently completed a major paint and interior refurbishment on a Falcon 900EX at its full-service facility in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Highlighted by several modifications that dramatically transform the interior and make the aircraft more practical, the new interior is welcoming and comfortable, incorporating modern functionality and a timeless aesthetic.
The owners, Billy and Rozanne Rosenthal, decided it was time to upgrade the early 2000s aircraft they’ve had for more than six years, which included the installation of new API winglets.
“I was always told if you want to upgrade your aircraft, do it during the C-Check,” Rosenthal said. “When that time rolled around, I said ‘why not!’”
Rosenthal said that Duncan Aviation came by recommendation from his aviation team.
“They said if you really want to get the best quality, go to Duncan Aviation,” he said. “Our top priority was getting a quality job. Many of my friends have brought their aircraft to Duncan Aviation in the past, and they all had great things to say.”
<h2>An Above and Beyond Quote Package</h2>
What helped sell the project was the comprehensive quote package presentation Senior Completions &amp; Modifications Sales Rep Tracey Boesch put together for the Rosenthals.
“Often, quote packages can be just numbers and words, with nothing that shows you the result,” commented Duncan Aviation Senior Lead Designer Stephanie Kuhn. “Tracey’s presentation included before and after photos and examples of past projects that we have done that shows clients what the numbers will mean in the end. It was a visual representation of the dramatic change we can make, and how we can bring their aircraft to life.”
The quote package allows the customer to see what they are paying for, and the many ways their interior can be enhanced. It also helps to spark ideas in the customer about how their interior can be made more functional.
<h2>The Design Consultation</h2>
In the early stages of the process, the Rosenthals gave the Duncan Aviation team an idea of what they hoped to see in the new interior. They then flew to the Duncan Aviation facility in Lincoln for a design consultation to nail down the details and provide direction for the refurbishment.
“When we went to Duncan Aviation in Lincoln to meet with the team. They had wonderful ideas laid out,” Rosenthal explained. “We mixed and matched and modified until landing on the perfect plan. Rozanne and I had a great time doing it. It was an overall great experience—the team had a lot of awesome ideas.”
Kuhn explained that the goal was to give them a visual representation of the different types of materials and colors, and provide the Rosenthals with a theme. “They instantly honed in on one option I put together, and away we went,” she said.
Kuhn went on to say she enjoys when customers are able to visit one of the Design Centers located at Duncan Aviation’s facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska; Battle Creek, Michigan; or Provo, Utah; because they have our full resources on hand to show the customer what is truly possible.
“We can fly to them or send design boards, but that limits what we are able to present,” she said. “When&nbsp;customers come to visit, we have our full library at hand, allowing us to quickly explore and adjust colors, fabrics, and finishes. It really sparks new ideas on what else we can do to help them enjoy their space more. They are also able to tour our facility and meet the technicians and craftspeople who will be working on their aircraft.”

<h2>Major Modifications</h2>
There were several major modifications that made the aircraft more functional for the owners.
Right Hand Forward Closet Storage Cabinet
A point of concern brought forth from the couple was the lack of storage in the aircraft. To address this concern, the forward crew lavatory was removed and replaced with a storage cabinet that doubles as a closet.
“We find that a lot of operators will use the Falcon 900 roughly 90-95% of the time domestically for flights that last under 4-5 hours,” said Boesch. “Plus, if the owners have a good relationship with their pilots and don’t mind sharing the aft lavatory, it’s not an issue to remove the forward lav. The space creates an excellent storage compartment.”
Rosenthal said, to him, the new closet is way better served than having an extra lavatory.
“It turned out great,” he said. “It looks like the aircraft was designed that way!”
The removed lavatory is tagged, crated and put into storage so when the owner goes to sell the aircraft, the new owner has an option to re-install the lavatory.
<h2>Mid-Cabin Dividers</h2>
The mid-cabin dividers were removed to help the aircraft feel more open.
“The owners are very family-oriented, and wanted the interior to feel more open,” Kuhn said. “By removing the dividers, we were able to give them that open feeling.”
Rosenthal said with the new configuration the aircraft feels more open and there is a better feeling throughout the cabin. “Overall, from the reconfigurations, modifications and&nbsp;top to bottom refurbishment, the cabin just makes more sense,” he said.
<h2>Dual Divans</h2>
One of the unplanned floorplan modifications added to the project was sparked by a photo of a past project with the aft divans berthed in the quote presentation package.
This option gained further interest when Boesch had the chance to explain to the flight department team that the new Falcon 900 divan could accommodate four belted positions if desired, not just the typical three, once she learned more about the owners and their family-oriented trips. While seated space would be too narrow for 4 adults on the divan, it is ideal for smaller grandkids to sit four comfortably on the divan.
The divans can be made into a bed for longer trips, and also give the owners a separate location where they each can lay flat.
<h2>An Updated and Streamlined Look</h2>
Duncan Aviation’s interior modifications team incorporated the Duncan Aviation-designed PSU Overlay panels and modernized the drinkrails to create an updated look in the cabin that is also functional.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The updated drinkrails have a streamlined, thinner profile that modernizes the interior and brings it to a current day look. The existing cupholders were relocated to fit the new lid that accommodates the cabin management system (CMS) switch panels underneath for an uncluttered drinkrail.&nbsp;
The new Duncan Aviation-designed One-Piece PSU Overlay panels provide an updated look to the cabin interior and integrated new LED up and down wash lighting. They also allow for easy removal and reinstallation with a more secure fit than the former original 3-piece valance panels.

<h2>Expanded Functions For The CMS</h2>
In keeping with the overall theme of the aircraft’s upgrade, the owners selected the latest version of the Collins Aerospace Cabin Management System (CMS), Venue, for its enhanced features and expanded functionality. The CMS controls are conveniently installed beneath new lids in the drinkrails, allowing each passenger to manage cabin settings through an intuitive Graphical User Interface (GUI). The user-friendly buttons and icons provide straightforward access to controls for lighting, audio, airflow, and video.
Flush-mounted bulkhead monitors display sharp, high-resolution graphics and text, enhancing the experience of the 3D Collins Airshow Moving Maps. The system also seamlessly integrates with passengers’ personal devices, enabling wireless streaming of audio and video content.
<h2>An Overall Great Experience</h2>
Rosenthal said he was glad they chose Duncan Aviation.
“Overall, the product is fantastic,” he said. “The aircraft looks absolutely gorgeous. It looks brand new. I feel… excited! It’s just gorgeous and turned out great.”
The highlight for Rosenthal was just how nicely everything came together.
“Everything matches and from top to bottom, it’s just beautiful,” he said. “The seats are even more comfortable than they were before!”
He went on to say that the Duncan Aviation team couldn’t have been nicer.
“They made us feel important,” Rosenthal said. “I could tell there is a great culture you have in your organization. It’s something you should feel proud of. Everyone knew their role and was great. From picking out the different materials and colors, to discussing all the options we had, it was a blast.”
<h2>An Inspiring Couple</h2>
“I’ve had the privilege of working with some amazing customers, but these two were truly inspiring,” Kuhn said. “They had such a natural connection, and their energy was contagious. You couldn’t help but enjoy being around them—they were just genuinely wonderful people.”
Boesch said this was the best owner experience she’s had in her 35 years at Duncan Aviation.
“Billy and Rozanne were among the nicest people I’ve&nbsp;ever&nbsp;had the pleasure of working with,” Boesch said. “We looked forward to each of their visits to hear more of their life stories, which they shared with such ease and openness.&nbsp;They have each made such an impact on their city, businesses and the people they have led and served.&nbsp;Rozanne's commitment to community volunteerism and leadership left me in awe of her tireless energy.&nbsp;Their life journey sounds amazing so far and I feel very fortunate to have intersected with it, even briefly, in this moment in time.”
Boesch continued, “Not only was I excited to see another gorgeous aircraft brought to life by our Duncan Aviation team, I was especially grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Billy and Rozanne. Their crew was also great to work with. Our interactions were very positive and underscored the strong partnership we developed, especially with our Project Manager Ryan Oestmann, who handled all of the day-to-day aircraft activities.”
<h2>The Finer Details</h2>
The wool carpet has a subtle two tone that brings in warmth and comfort.
The seats are a beautiful, classic design with a headrest that sits proud. This took our team some slight modification. The team also modified the two forward facing seats in the forward club to integrate new recliner leg rests for the primary VIP seats.
The galley tower was modified to include solid doors with veneer and removal of the typical see-through plex doors.&nbsp;
New satin antique nickel was the beautiful plated finish throughout the aircraft, perfectly complementing the rich tones of the veneer. Modern paddle latches were also installed, adding a sleek, contemporary touch.
The credenza was modified to remove the raised aft end resulting in a single height cabinet to create a better flow in the mid-cabin.
The aft lavatory was modified to remove the small angle on either side of the center mirror to provide a level upper vanity, smoothing out surfaces in the smaller lavatory space, making it feel slightly larger.&nbsp; This is further achieved by the RH panel modification to create a new upwash valance light in conjunction with the cabin PSU overlay panels.
The lower sidewalls are upholstered in leather, accented by a vertical French stitch below each table centerline, adding a refined touch of detail.
The new solid surface features a natural, stone-like movement that adds visual depth and elegance. Complementing the updated surfaces, new faucets were installed in both the galley and lavatory vanity.
Straight grain, new veneer throughout the aircraft with a greige-taupe warm undertone flows perfectly among the remainder of the materials in the new interior.
The new exterior paint has a Matterhorn white base, highlighted with striking blue metallic stripes. The owner’s state flag was added as a personal touch.

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